This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Joel Matip’s injury came at a bad time for Liverpool.
The Cameroon international started seven of the first nine Premier League games of the season, with Liverpool winning all but one of those he featured in. However, he sustained an issue ahead of the match against Tottenham at Anfield, and he has not played a minute of football since.
Jurgen Klopp will have been far from happy to have been forced into making a change to a winning team, especially considering that Dejan Lovren was the most senior alternative available to him.
The 57-time Croatia international is not a popular figure amongst a portion of the club’s fanbase, whilst there have been questions asked as to whether the 30-year-old is good enough to appear for Liverpool on a regular basis.
However, since he has come back into the side, he has proven his worth to the German manager. The Reds have won each of their last three Premier League games, with the latest coming against Manchester City.
It may not have been the most swashbuckling of performances from the European champions, but their defensive display was almost flawless. The Citizens managed just three shots on target throughout the match – a big drop from their 7.2 per game average this term – and Lovren helped limit their attacking threat.
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With former Schalke player Matip out of the side, the man who moved to Merseyside for £20m from Southampton in 2014 has grabbed his opportunity with two hands. And his return to the side completes an impressive comeback. In the summer, it looked as though he was on his way out of the door after talks were held between his representative and AC Milan.
He has been ridiculed in the past, especially after he declared himself “one of the best defenders in the world”. Whilst he may not be at that level, the £18m-valued man – as per Transfermarkt – is arguably underrated. He has experience in three countries, and has appeared in both the Champions League and World Cup finals. That is something that must not be taken for granted.
All in all, he deserves his chance at Anfield and, with Milan banging on the door once again (Tuttosport via The Daily Mail), he may just be convincing Klopp and co to do all they can to keep him.
Manchester United have a promising academy star on their transfer radar, with Dan Ashworth a long-term admirer of the player, according to a new report. The Red Devils will be preparing for their third match in a week as they travel to London to face Crystal Palace, and Erik ten Hag will be hoping it is three wins from three after victories over Southampton and Barnsley.
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1 ByBrett Worthington Sep 18, 2024 Man United transfer updates
The transfer window has been shut for a few weeks now and doesn’t open again until January, but United officials seem to be getting their homework done on potential new recruits. The Red Devils have already been linked with moves for AS Monaco defender Vanderson and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon, and now they are looking at other options as well.
According to a recent report, United had scouts in Norway last Sunday to watch young midfielder Sverre Nypan. It’s been reported that United “put out feelers” for the player back in April, and they have continued to keep an eye on his development since.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag
Nypan, who has been struggling with illness recently, was watched not only by United officials on Sunday, but Bayer Leverkusen also had people in attendance to take in the 17-year-old. Nypan is said to be a United fan though, which is something that could give the Premier League side an edge were they to pursue a move for the talented star.
But Nypan isn’t the only promising talent that the Red Devils are keeping their eye on, also looking a little closer to home when it comes to landing young stars.
Man Utd and INEOS considering move for Tyler Dibling
According to Give Me Sport, Manchester United have placed Southampton player Tyler Dibling on their transfer radar. The Saints are looking to tie the player down to a new long-term contract, but United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth is hoping to lure Dibling to Old Trafford after watching him for a while.
Tyler Dibling for Southampton.
Dibling is a product of Southampton’s academy, and he has really impressed in the top flight this season, appearing in all four league games. The winger started in their last game, which was against United, and he caused havoc against defender Diogo Dalot, with the Portuguese ace fouling Dibling for the penalty.
This report states that United could be interested in trying to turn Dibling’s head, despite Southampton having hopes that he will sign a new contract. Ashworth has already tried to sign the player before, when he was at Newcastle United, and he remains a fan of his despite him rejecting a move to St. James’ Park.
Apps
11
Goals
0
Assists
2
The Red Devils are looking to add more under-21 talent to their squad after adding Chido Obi Martin, Sekou Kone and James Overy this summer, and Dibling could be the latest, given Ashworth’s fondness for the winger. However, Southampton will hope the guarantee of first-team football will be enough for him to remain at St. Mary’s.
Things are going to start shifting at Everton. Sean Dyche knows this and has expressed that he wants to lead the Merseysiders forward as they leave Goodison Park and move into their highly-anticipated new stadium in 2025.
Dyche will also know that his team’s abject run of form to start the season off needs to change – fast. Crystal Palace head to Liverpool tomorrow afternoon in a contest between two outfits seeking their first Premier League victory of the year. If Everton fail to win, the 53-year-old manager will be sweating over his future in the dugout.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
But let’s be pragmatic for a moment – is Dyche really the man to take the club forward, even if he lifts the Toffees away from danger this year?
There’s a case for the negative.
Why Everton should sack Sean Dyche
Sources close to Everton suggest that the club’s stance on Dyche’s role in the dugout remains resolute, even though The Friedkin Group are on the cusp of completing a purchase of Farhad Moshiri’s majority shares.
Dyche is regarded as a manager who enforces an unfashionable and counter-possession style of football, and while this is certainly the case – Everton’s 37% average possession this year is the lowest in the Premier League – his side does like to drive forward.
A lack of possession does not necessarily translate to ‘defensive’ football: Arsenal rank 16th for possession held in the top flight this term with a 41% average.
Further to the point, Everton have created nine big chances in the league this year, ranking joint ninth among a host of divisional rivals. Last year, they ranked 11th with 63 big chances created, more than Manchester United.
So, you see, Everton have a way of working, Dyche has a way of doing things, but that’s not to say at all that he’s not effective, not assured in his system and its parts. Let’s not forget, without the imposed eight-point deduction, the Goodison Park side would have clocked in at a joint-11th-placed finish.
Of course, we’re dancing away from the point that Everton have been in dismal showing this season, and though they’ve managed to showcase some attacking intent in recent matches, taking the lead in each of their past three, the Blues lost against Bournemouth and Aston Villa despite holding two-goal leads and drew at Leicester City after scoring first.
The team clearly has offensive skills to offer, but Dyche’s well-known defensive solidity has slipped and melted into weak and porous. It’s time for change, and West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan could be the man for the job.
Carlos Corberan would be the dream Dyche replacement
Corberan implements an attractive and high-energy style of football that would certainly bring about a sense of change at Everton, with the promising coach previously touted as a target following Frank Lampard’s dismissal back in January 2023.
Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman has previously said that the Spaniard’s Baggies are “horrible to play against”, with his 4-2-3-1 formation succeeding in shaping his heavy-metal brand.
Having cut his teeth under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, the 41-year-old brings a style carrying a semblance to that of the Argentine, playing fluid and fast football.
His innate tactical understanding and easy-on-the-eye football could see him emerge as Everton’s top target and receive attention beyond that of former Blues gaffer David Moyes and Gareth Southgate, two names that have been linked with the job amid growing questions about Dyche’s leadership.
It could also unlock new signing Iliman Ndiaye, who has been one of Everton’s brightest sparks this season but has a skillset that could perhaps benefit from a shift in manager.
Ndiaye was signed from Marseille for a fee in the region of £15m this summer and he has indeed impressed so far, scoring twice, including against the Foxes last time out to earn Everton their first point of the term.
A technically impressive player, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising that point.
Matches (starts)
5 (3)
Goals
1
Shots (on target)*
1.2 (0.6)
Accurate passes
81%
Key passes*
0.8
Dribbles completed*
1.8
Ball recoveries
5.0
Tackles + interceptions*
3.0
Total duels won
4.6
An athletic and fleet-footed player, the versatile forward could be perfect in a more attack-focused system, with the roundedness and combative sheen to make it all tick – he might even become Corberan’s main man down the line, as he continues to adapt.
Once described as a “genius” by former Leeds player Romario Vieira, Corberan must be the man to target if Dyche fails to turn things around – Southgate’s tactics didn’t exactly go down a treat for the Three Lions this summer even if willpower dragged them through to the final, while Moyes’ tenure at West Ham came to an end with fans crying out for something new, given his pragmatic approach.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
Although Corberan will be immensely proud of the work he has done at the Hawthorns, with West Brom indeed perched in pole position after seven fixtures in 2024/25, he will know that solidified Everton interest could prove to be an opportunity not worth passing up on.
TFG, whisper it quietly, could establish the infrastructure for a brand new world on the blue half of Merseyside – they need to make it happen.
Branthwaite will love him: Everton could appoint "genius" Dyche replacement
He’d be a breath of fresh air for the Merseysiders…
Glasgow Rangers moved back to within five points of the top of the Scottish Premiership table with a 1-0 win away at Dundee United on Sunday.
The Light Blues claimed all three points away from Ibrox with a narrow victory, thanks to a first-half goal from attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence.
It was a scrappy, hard-fought, win for Philippe Clement’s side and one that they needed after losing the first Old Firm clash of the season 3-0 before the international break.
Phillipe Clement
The match-winner, Lawrence, enjoyed an excellent afternoon at Tannadice but he was not the only star of the show for the Scottish giants.
Tom Lawrence's performance in numbers
The Welsh attacking midfielder opened the scoring by bundling his way through several attempted challenges from Dundee United defenders before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
That was one of five shots taken by the former Derby County man, who had three shots on target and missed one ‘big chance’, as he constantly threatened the opposition’s goal.
Lawrence was not particularly creative for his side, though, with one key pass and zero ‘big chances’ created from 60 touches of the ball in total.
The Welshman also lost 11 of his 16 duels throughout the match, including four of his five aerial contests, which suggests that Dundee United players found it too easy to get the better of him in physical battles.
It was a flawed, but still good, performance from Lawrence and the real hero of the story at Tannadice was Brazilian left-back Jefte, who caught the eye with a strong showing.
Jefte was the hero of the story
The summer signing enjoyed a successful afternoon on Sunday with a fantastic performance in and out of possession down the left flank for Rangers.
Ridvan Yilmaz’s absence through injury has provided the Brazilian starlet with a chance to show what he can do for Clement, and will surely have impressed his manager with his display.
He provided a constant threat down the left side with his willingness to run beyond Oscar Cortes in the first half to whip crosses in – producing eight crosses in total.
Clearances
5
Tackles + interceptions
4
Ground duels won
6/7
Aerial duels won
2/4
Dribble success rate
100% (2/2)
As you can see in the table above, Jefte was also dominant defensively for the Gers as he won 88% of his ground duels and eight of his 11 battles in total.
The superb left-back, who made nine tackles, interceptions, and clearances, was crucial to the clean sheet with his interventions to prevent Jack Butland’s goal from being threatened.
He also completed 86% of his attempted passes and both of his attempted dribbles, which shows that Jefte was reliable in possession and able to retain the ball to help his side control the game.
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1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024
Overall, he was the real hero for Clement due to his contributions in and out of possession for the Scottish giants, whilst Lawrence left a fair bit to be desired from his display outside of his match-winning strike.
Liverpool have been active in the summer transfer window following a disappointing campaign last season and a midfield rebuild has been the top priority for Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke.
The Reds have returned to pre-season training with two new additions in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining the Merseyside outfit and there is no doubt that Klopp will be looking forward to working the pair into his tactical philosophy to improve the quality in the centre of the pitch next season.
Despite the squad getting back to work ahead of next season, the club remain active in the market with Romeo Lavia the latest midfielder to be linked with a move to Anfield this summer, however, they could also be in the market to snap up the services of a quality centre-back too.
Liverpool have been linked with numerous names in that role over the last few weeks and months with Joska Gvardiol, Micky van de Ven and Levi Colwill all mooted as potential prospects for the club.
The latest defender to be touted for a move to Anfield is Torino titan Perr Schuurs, a talented centre-back who is not only a fantastic youth prospect but a compatriot and competitor of Virgil van Dijk in the Netherlands national team.
According to Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are expected to make another approach for Schuurs this summer after having an initial €30m (£26m) bid rejected in the past.
Who is Perr Schuurs?
The 23-year-old – hailed "outstanding" by journalist Josh Bunting – made his start in Fortuna Sittard's academy before moving on to Ajax's highly-rated youth set-up back in 2018 and quickly becoming a first-team regular at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Schuurs played his part in winning three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch cups under Erik ten Hag and last summer made a permanent move to the Serie A via Torino, where he has continued to flourish and attract attention which has led to his inclusion in the Netherlands squad – although he is yet to make an appearance for the senior side.
Liverpool have had incredible success when leaning on Dutch talent with Dirk Kuyt, Georginio Wijnaldum and Van Dijk playing huge roles in the club's dominance over the years, whilst Cody Gakpo has been the latest Netherlands native to burst onto the scene at Anfield joining the club back in January this year.
Now Klopp could repeat his Van Dijk masterclass with the signing of Schuurs – who has a reported price tag of €40m (£34.3m) – this summer as the 6 foot 3 Goliath could be the rightful heir to the Liverpool superstar's important role in the team.
When comparing the Serie A star to his Liverpool positional peer over last season, the Dutch duo have come close in a number of key attributes including pass completion rate (88.1% v 90.5%), interceptions (28 v 31), blocks (29 v 24) and ball recoveries (181 v 168) over 32 league appearances, as per FBref.
Whilst Schuurs also outperformed Van Dijk in tackles won per 90 (1.97 v 0.78), interceptions completed per 90 (1.08 v 0.89), successful take-ons per 90 (0.39 v 0.05) and blocks per 90 (1.08 v 0.71) over the last 12 months, proving that he could be not only a valuable asset for the future but also a worthy successor to the Netherlands captain.
With that being said, if Liverpool can secure a deal for Schuurs it would be a great piece of business for the club and could provide Klopp with his next prodigy to develop into a star player.
The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Celtic have already completed their first new signing.
Odin Thiago Holm arrived on a five-year deal from Norwegian side Valerenga last week and Brendan Rodgers now has over two months left to make further additions to his squad.
One area of the pitch in which the Hoops are looking to strengthen in is the forward department, as they search for a third option alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh.
Hacken number nine Benie Traore is a reported transfer target for Celtic and would cost a fee in the region of £5m if they were to snap him up before the deadline, as per journalist Alan Nixon's Patreon (25/06/2023).
Would Benie Traore be a good signing for Celtic?
The Ivorian marksman has the potential to be an exceptional addition to Rodgers’ squad and could be an immediate upgrade on Oh, who only joined the club in January of this year.
It is impossible to guarantee that the 20-year-old prospect will be able to translate his form over to Scottish football but his statistics this year suggest that it is a gamble worth taking for Celtic.
Traore has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 across 13 Swedish top-flight outings in 2023, which would have placed him third in the Hoops squad for average league ratings during the 2022/23 campaign.
Celtic centre-forward Hyeon-gyu Oh.
Oh, on the other hand, averaged a rating of 6.81 after 16 Scottish Premiership appearances and ranked 21st in the team.
The South Korean marksman scored six goals and missed five ‘big chances’ in front of goal in those matches, while the Hacken ace has plundered 12 goals to go along with six missed ‘big chances’ this year.
These statistics indicate that Rodgers could secure a more prolific player in comparison to the ex-Bluewings forward by signing the exciting "jewel" – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Traore could also provide more creativity from the number nine position as the 20-year-old prospect has created 1.4 chances per match this term, while no Celtic striker managed more than Oh’s 0.4 key passes per outing in the 2022/23 season.
This suggests that the 5 foot 8 dynamo could be better at bringing his teammates into the game by presenting them with opportunities to score themselves, instead of only being in the team as a pure finisher.
Therefore, Rodgers would land an immediate upgrade on Oh by striking a deal for Traore in the coming weeks, based on their respective form at the top end of the pitch this year.
Jose Mourinho has quit his position on the UEFA football board following his spat with referee Anthony Taylor after AS Roma's Europa League final loss.
What happened between Jose Mourinho and Anthony Taylor?
The Portuguese manager was incensed with the referee after his side lost on penalties in the final to Sevilla, and he quickly let him know about it.
The situation led to Taylor receiving abuse from numerous Roma fans shortly afterwards – with his family harassed at an airport – and an Italian man was even arrested for his role in the abuse.
Roma coach Jose Mourinho and refereeAnthonyTaylor
For his role in inciting the incident, Mourinho – who was spotted waiting for the referee in a car park after the final – has been punished with a four-match ban which will come into effect at the start of next season.
Clearly unhappy with the decision, the former Chelsea manager has let the UEFA football board know he was immediately stepping down from his role with the group, reports The Athletic.
How did Jose Mourinho quit the board?
After finding out about his four-match ban, Mourinho immediately quit the board, informing UEFA Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban in the form of a letter.
The letter read: "In thanking you for the invitation you extended to me to be a member of the UEFA football board, I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will be renouncing my participation in this group.
“The conditions which I so strongly believed in when I joined are no longer standing and I felt the obligation to take this decision.
“I kindly ask that you also communicate my decision to the President Mr. Aleksander Ceferin.”
Roma are expected to launch an appeal to overturn Mourinho's ban but will hold off until they receive UEFA's written reasons for the ban, before moving forward with it.
Has Jose Mourinho been involved in any other controversy in the past?
The incident is far from the first controversial moment of Mourinho's career, though, with the former Chelsea boss prone to some pretty wild moments.
One example of the Portuguese coach making headlines for the wrong reasons was his incredible seven-minute rant following Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Southampton in October 2015.
Enraged by the result, he went crazy in his post-match interview, calling out match officials, even saying the following: "I think it’s time to be a little bit honest and to say clearly that referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea."
Another controversial moment in his career was calling former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a "specialist in failure" followings a war of the words between the two coaches in 2014.
Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Mourinho is one of football's biggest characters, and it's almost certain that this latest episode of controversy won't be the last in his career.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria this summer transfer window.
Wolves transfer news – Could they sign Antonio Sanabria?
According to Torino Granata (via Sport Witness), the Midlands outfit are amongst several English sides interested in the 27-year-old striker, including top-flight rivals Everton and Crystal Palace.
Torino are reportedly already negotiating a deal with Palace for their misfiring forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, and, therefore, there is the potential that the club can use him as a way to sweeten the deal.
However, the report mentions that the Turin-based side would prefer to sell their asset for cash, with a fee set at an initial €25m (£21m), but they 'will sell' for just €20m (£17m) if they need to.
With Wolves' lack of goals this season, just 31 in 38 games, ownership group Fosun shouldn't delay on sealing this deal.
Could Antonio Sanabria be Julen Lopetegui's own Dusan Vlahovic?
That isn't just a question because they are both strong forwards playing in the same league and the same city, for that matter.
Instead, it's FBref, who have highlighted the striking similarities in both players' games, ranking the Serbian as the third most similar player to Sanabria right now.
The first and perhaps most surface-level similarities between the players are their goal tallies and expected goals. The Torino man has netted 12 times from an xG of just 9.7, and the Juventus forward has found the back of the net 10 times with a similar xG of 9.7.
Their shooting statistics are, again, very similar.
According to FBref, the Paraguayan has 0.89 shots on target per 90 compared to the former Fiorentina man's 0.93. Interestingly, the distance from where they shoot is also remarkably similar, with the 27-year-old shooting from an average distance of 13.5 yards and the 23-year-old from 15.5, per FBref.
Soccer Football – Serie A – Torino v Juventus – Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Turin, Italy – October 15, 2022 Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic in action with Torino’s Ricardo Rodriguez REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
An area that both players need to improve is their defensive contribution. Throughout their entire campaigns last season, both players put in just 11 tackles, with neither one winning more than half of them.
That said, with the dire attacking situation at Molineux, Julen Lopetegui shouldn't be worrying too much about a striker's potential defensive contribution.
Outside the comparison to cross-city rival, Sanabria is a great player in his own right, once being described by the legendary Francesco Totti as "a player that can offer brilliance, and in the last 30 metres that can make all the difference" – high praise indeed.
Across his 28 starts in Serie A this season, the San Lorenzo-born forward has averaged a good rating of 6.82, according to WhoScored.
If Wolves are able to get this deal done, they should certainly do so. For as low as £17m, Lopetegui could well and truly have his own bargain Vlahovic at Molineux.
Tottenham Hotspur are "on the verge" of agreeing contract terms with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, following "positive talks", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Which goalkeeper are Tottenham signing?
According to a report from earlier this month, Tottenham have made contact with Everton about a summer move for Jordan Pickford, however they may be put off by his high asking price, with the Toffees set to hold out for around £40m.
With Manchester United now readying a move for the England international, Spurs may be forced to move on to other targets, with the likes of Dean Henderson, Mike Maignan and Robert Sanchez previously being identified as potential options.
The same report outlines Raya as a target for the Lilywhites, and having held talks with Brentford about a summer move for the goalkeeper, Romano has now provided a new update, which indicates that a breakthrough has been made.
Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert claimed that a significant breakthrough has been made in talks with the Spaniard, however one potential obstacle is that Tottenham are unhappy with the fee being demanded by Brentford.
The Italian said: "Tottenham are now on the verge of reaching an agreement with David Raya on personal terms. Long term contract, almost agreed after positive talks.
"Raya, open to Spurs move but club to club talks will be crucial. £40m fee asked by Brentford, considered too high."
Is David Raya signing for Tottenham?
The 27-year-old has reportedly turned down two contract offers from Brentford, but he is settled in London, which could give Tottenham a major advantage in the race for his signature, despite the previous links to Manchester United.
Brentford reporter Jay Harris hailed the Barcelona-born shot-stopper last season, describing him as "incredible", while also claiming that he is "one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League".
With 154 saves to his name in the Premier League last season, the Brentford goalkeeper was ranked at the top of the charts, making ten more saves than any other player in the top flight, and he is also impressive with the ball at his feet.
Over the past year, the two-time Spain international has averaged 45.32 touches per 90, which places him in the 94th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating his willingness to get involved in the play.
Even at £40m, Raya could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, and it is exciting news that contract terms have almost been agreed.
With Tottenham Hotspur now plotting to strengthen following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou, one transfer rumour that has particularly caught the eye is the links to Manchester United winger, Jadon Sancho.
According to a recent report from the Daily Star, the Lilywhites are said to be interested in making a £50m move for the England international this summer, with the 23-year-old having initially made the switch to Old Trafford on a £73m deal back in 2021.
The former Borussia Dortmund ace looks likely to be moved on by the Red Devils this summer amid claims that Erik ten Hag is willing to cash in on the 5 foot 11 trickster, with an asking price of around £60m having been suggested.
The one-time Manchester City youth product is currently facing such uncertainty at the Theatre of Dreams having provided just 18 goals and assists in 79 games across all fronts over the last two seasons, although those at N17 may well be hoping that they can revive the £350k-per-week forward's fortunes if he is to make the move to the capital over the coming weeks and months.
Should Tottenham sign Jadon Sancho?
There is no denying that Sancho is not looking like the player who previously burst onto the scene at Dortmund, having notably racked up 114 goals and assists in just 137 games for the Bundesliga side, prior to making his return to England.
That stellar form had unsurprisingly earned the wide man rave reviews, with his compatriot and former teammate Jude Bellingham having dubbed him "frightening" and "scary" back in 2021 due to the sheer scale of his talent.
Tottenham's Harry Kane
That version of the London-born whiz would no doubt be a real bonus for Spurs if they could wrap up a deal, with there a potential for Sancho to form a devastating attacking partnership with his England colleague, Harry Kane, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With it looking as if Kane will not be sold by chairman Daniel Levy this summer, the club's record scorer is set to lead the line yet again next term, having only recently ended the 2022/23 campaign with a staggering haul of 30 league goals to his name.
As Sancho's assist record in Germany would illustrate – a total of 64 assists in all competitions – the playmaker could well help to provide quality service to the 29-year-old in attack, while the current United man has also shown a willingness to try and make things happen at the top end of the in recent times, as he ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area.
Even amid his current woes, the fleet-footed ace still ranks in the top 20% for shot-creating actions as a further marker of his creative ability in the final third, again suggesting that he could be the man to deliver the goods to Kane on a regular basis.
Of course – as the most recent campaign has shown – the latter man is almost able to make the difference on his own, yet having a fit and firing Sancho alongside him in the attack could be a truly mouthwatering proposition.